Hydraulically powered motor, particularly adapted for deep well pumping



Feb. 19, 1963 P. G. HART 3,077,865

HYDRAULICALLY POWERED MOTOR, PARTIOULARLY ADAPTED FOR DEEP WELL POMPINO Filed Aug. 16, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. PAUL G. Hmm- Feb. 19, 1963 P. G. HART 3,077,865

HYORAULIOALLY POWERED MOTOR, PARTIOULARLY ADAPTED FOR DEEP WELL PUMPING Filed Aug. 16, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4L ze INVENTOR. j' PAUL G. HART BY l,

7 ATTOLZMEY 3 077 865 HYDRAULICALLY PWEQED MTR PARTIS EARLY ADAPTED FR DEEP WELL UMPINGU Paul Gene Hart, 2613 Espanola St. NE.,

Albuquerque, N. Mex. lFiled 16, 196i?, Ser. No. 49,971 4 Ciaims. (Ci. 121-129) The present invention relates to hydraulic motorsthat is, cylinder and piston type motors powered by liquid introduced thereto under high pressure. These generally are used in deep well oil pumping systems; and this motor has been especially designed for such use.

The motor of this invention is oscillatory in the sense that it involves a cylinder and coacting piston, working together in either straight-line or arcuate motion, with one or the other substantially stationary, located adjacent the well bottom and receiving oil or other liquid under high pressure from the earths surface. Of course, the motor is suitable for other applications and installations.

It `is noted that many patents have been granted for motors, and combined motor-pumps, for deep well operation; all being very costly to manufacture and requiring high maintenance costs even if operational for limited periods.

The primary object of the present invention is to produce and supply a simplified motor that is operable by hydraulic pressure, and specially designed to actuate deep well pumping mechanism; the principal idea being to provide a motor that is inexpensive, seldom requiring attention. Most motors of this type require a chain of intricate valves, pistons and cylinders; or a too-complex system of stationary cylinder, interposed sleeve valve and inner piston, all within a surrounding casing of small diameter. The simplification, just mentioned, consists primarily in eliminating at least one part-utilizing the actual working cylinder itself as a chamber and also as the principal part of a reversing valve arrangement. There -is a housing, this sleeve-valve cylinder working therein and a power piston connectible to any suitable machine, such as a pump, requiring mechanical operating power.

Another major object of this Iinvention is to so design the ports and passages that the line for inlet flow is always greater in cross-sectiontal area than that for the outlet (exhaust) flow; the purpose of such design being to avoid liquid lock that might prevent valve reversal at the end of stroke. In the absence of positive reversing mechanism, this feature is deemed essential, and in any event it is helpful, 'as the device depends in great part upon inertia or blounce in its oscillatory motion to ensure Valve reversa A further important object is to provide a check-valve means in the path of iiuid tiow through a ported piston in an arrangement of the type mentioned, for reasons soon to be understood.

The foregoing, and still further and subordinate objects will appear from a study of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in longitudinal and vertical section, the preferred embodiment of my invention disposed in its most suitable environment, viz., at the bottom of a deep oil well.

FIG. 2 shows the motor of FIG. 1 in complete and enlarged longitudinal section, with the piston elevated for its down stroke.

FIG. 3 duplicates FIG. 2, except that the piston has terminated its down stroke and is being initiated 't0 tS return or up stroke.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 represent cross sections taken respec- 3,077,865 Patented Feb. 19, 1963 tively on lines 1 -J4, 5-5 and 6 6, FIG. 3, with all looking upwardly as indicated by arrows.

With continued reference to the drawings, and lirst to FIG. l, the numeral Iii denotes a conventional deep well casing. It may be a few hundred, or several thousand feet underground. In fact, the motor M shown therein may be operated above the earths surface. However, this motor M, specialized as shown, is designed for underground operation.

In the specialized application illustrated in FIG. 1, the casing lil may have a diameter of only several inches. It follows that there is no room for additional internal parts, especially variegated valving arrangements, cylinder, piston, etc., so complicated as to introduce inter-locking, sanding, too-frequent pulling for repair, etc. Here the casing llt?, of course, is in sections, screwed together, though not illustrated in that manner.

Likewise the motor M, though shown simply in the form of a bucket, may comprise two or more sections screwthreaded together, to form the cylinder housing 12. This is an outer container, very essential, for the working cylinder and piston of the motor parts, as it provides outilow passage of exhaust liquids linto the space between tubes 13 and 17. It should be explained here that tube 13 exhausts liquid, and that tube I7 shoots high-pressure liquid to the motor proper from a pressure source.

Most of this can be understood by reference to the prior art, in which there are some engines of this general type. tSonie of them utilize hydraulic pressure developed aboveground. Some utilize the pumped oil in an interexehange system.

The present invention relates to such mechanisms but actually resides in a motor classification. Therefore, in presenting it, not much attention has been given to operational details for deep well arrangements. For example, the members 13, 17 should have Well known spacing and anchoring arrangements, and a pump could be shown in operation by the rod 14. In this connection, it should further be understood that suitable and known sealing means will be provided where the rod slides through the cylinder end, and at any other appropriate points or zones throughout the engine.

Looking now at FIGS. 2-6, an important part of the motor M comprises a traveling piston P, having its body 16 integrally or otherwise solidly connected by the rod 14 to a pump (not shown) or any mechanism adapted to actuation thereby. The cylinder C, however, is the basic unit of the motor. It is a working cylinder, and it functions as a sleeve valve; and comprises the core of the entire system of revoiutionary, simple motor operation. It not only causes reversal of the piston strokes but aids in the introduction of high pressure fluid to one end of its own chamber.

The cylinder is double ended and entirely closed except for features now to be discussed. It is mounted for substantial but limited axial sliding movement within a pair of complemental members 18, one at each end of the housing 12, and joined to the latter, for example, by webs 19 and ribs Ztl. The members 18, functioning as part of an exhaust valving arrangement are shaped somewhat as the rim of a circular cake tin, open at their ends and receiving the cylinder for reciprocation within their cylindrical rim portions.

The cylinder C has an elongated body 22, provided adjacent each end with a circumferential series of exhaust ports 23, preferably narrow and elongated vertically. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, these ports are opened and closed by the members 18 as the cylinder assumes one or the other of its extreme positions within the limits of its reciprocation.

Just where it enters the cylinder, the feed tube 17 carries an enlarged pot 25, provided with a circumferential annees set of ports 26, and the upper end of the cylinder has a down-turned cylindrical ange 24 to open and close this set of ports. Thus, the cylinder C operates to completely control the `exhaust from both ends of its own working chamber, and to control the admission and cut off of high4 pressure iiuid at `its upper end.

The `chambered pot 25 has a downward cylindrical` portion 27, designed toabut and push down a valve member Lof the piston P, as presently seen. The pipe 28 is secured to portion 27'but actually consists of an extension of the feed tube 17.` It is of a length approximately equal to the stroke of the piston and is freely receivable by the hollow piston rod 14. At its lower end it has a flanged abutment or kicker 29 to force the piston valve unit 30 up at the end ofthe down stroke.

Thepiston P is a quite simple device comprising, as aforestated, a reciprocating body 16. It is hollowed out centrally to slidably receive its 4valve unit 30, and the latter may be confined by a spanner type ring 32 screwed into the piston. The bottom of unit 30 has an annular offset ring `33b complemental to an annular recess 33a in the top of the piston rod to create a valuable dash pot eiect when the valve is` forced4 suddenly toits down. position by the feedl tube abutment 27. The cylinder body 22 has a pairof internal' integral rings 34 for defining the twolimits of the piston stroke.

The purpose of the valveunit 30 is to control a high` pressure porting arrangement built into the piston, said arrangement comprising an annularcavity 35 within the piston andhaving a plurality of passages 36, leading downwardly therefrom into the bottom of the working chamber. This cavity is in. communicationl with the feed tube when the valve 30 is up (FIG.` 3).`

Because of liquid displacement required by movement of they valve lunit 30, in. asystem or incompressible uid, it isdesirable to provide the piston with `check valve units 33 yand 39, openable in opposite vertical directions to relieve pressure at one side of the piston or the other.

It is considered` highly essential that the inlet port area for each end of the piston stroke be greater than the total exhaust port area for that part of the cycle of operation. This can be done by properly sizing and shaping the ports.v The illustrated design iscapable of many variations within the scope of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is found in FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 3. In this embodiment piston 16 is moved by iiuid pressurefrom the lower cylinder chamber, as shown in FIGURE 3, to the upper cylinder chamber, as shown in FIGURE 2, by the following method. Fluid under pressure enters the cylinder chamber through tube 28. The lower exhaust ports 23 are closed by the lower complementary members 1S. Piston 16 and valve `unit. 30are moved upward in the cylinder` chamber by thetluid pressure. Valve unit 30 is contacted by kicker plate 2,7stopping` the movement of valve unit 30 but allowing piston 16 to continue moving forward to contact the upper internal integral ring 34, causing the cylinder to move upward moving down-turned cylindrical flange 24 into an upward position thereby opening inlet ports 26. As the cylinder moves forward upper exhaust ports 23 are closedby upper complementary members 18 and the` lower exhaust ports 23 are opened by the upward movement of the cylinder fromA lower complementary members 1S. The entry of iluid under pressure to the cylinder chamber through tube 28 is shut off by valve unit 30 closing the opening between piston 16 and rod 14 asshown in FIGURE 2.

As ports 26 are opened the fluid under pressure enters the chamber through ports 26 causing piston 16 to move in a downward direction toward the lower portion of the cylinder chamber. Exhaust of the uid is accomplished through lower ports 23 as previously explained.

Piston 16, as it approaches the lower position, as shown in FIGURE 3, contacts the lower integral ring 34 forcing the cylinder chamber down, thereby closing exhaust ports 23, closing the upper inlet ports 26, and opening the upper exhaust ports 23, thereby allowing the direction of the piston to be reversed and the piston to again proceed in its upward course.

The method of operation should now be fairly obvious from the foregoinglrunning description, so no elaborate dissertation should be necessary. The principal feature to be observed is that the cycle of operation is fully automatic as long as sufficiently high pressure is supplied and that at the end of each stroke, aided by momentum the cylinder moves a short distance to change the porting and thus reverse the direction of stroke.

Obviously, the apparatus illustrated and described is susceptible to many modifications, especially` as to detail, by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of Vthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a well casing and a housing having a iluid discharge means; a 4working cylinder slidable. axially within the housing, the cylinder having both ends` ported ltor exhaust, a valve means attached to theupper end of the cylinder, a power piston itted within the cylinder chamber for reciprocation ,under alternate pressure of a iluid, a valve means attached yto the piston,A an inlet means for fluid under pressure with port communication to the upper and lower portions of the-cylinder chamber, a pair of complemental members within the housing at the upperand lowerend position of the axially` slidable cylinder, whereby the piston is `reciprocated by the 4inlet of tiuidpressure which is alternately controlled by the. valve meansattached to the piston at the lower portion of the cylinder chamber and `by the valve means attached at the upper portion of the cylinderchamber andthe exhaust of the pressureruid `is alternately, controlled by the closing of the cylinder ports by the complemental `members` as the cylinder is movedaxiallyto its. upper and lower positionwithinthe housing by the reciprocating piston.V

` 2. In the combination `of claim l, the inlet and exhaust arrangements so designed that, in either direction of the piston stroke, the total area of the inlet ports exceeds that of the corresponding discharge ports.

3,. In the combination of claim 1, the piston having a rod attached thereto, said rod extending outwardly through the opposite end of the housing, an internal chamber within therod at least the length of the piston stroke with intercommunication with the lower cylinder chamber, an inlet means for Huid under pressure at the` lower portion of the cylinder consisting of a feed tube with an inlet p ort at theend, the `tube the length of and projecting into the rod chamber, the tube having a stationary abutment block mounted near the top of the piston stroke toengage the valve member attached to the piston causing it to close the internal piston chamber thereby stopping `the pressure fluid tlowthrough the feed tube.

4. In the combination of claim 1, the working cylinder having two internal integral rings located at opposite portions of the cylinder whereby the axially slidable motion of the cylinder is caused by the contact of the piston with the rings as it moves within the cylinder.

References Cited in the `iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 219,739 Kirsten Sept. 16, 1879 2,346,026 Henricks Apr. 4, 1944 2,366,777 Farley et al. Jan. 9, 1945 2,394,976 Boone Feb. 19, 1946 2,570,647 Cormier Oct. 9, 1951 2,983,227 English May 9, 1961 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A WELL CASING AND A HOUSING HAVING A FLUID DISCHARGE MEANS; A WORKING CYLINDER SLIDABLE AXIALLY WITHIN THE HOUSING, THE CYLINDER HAVING BOTH ENDS PORTED FOR EXHAUST, A VALVE MEANS ATTACHED TO THE UPPER END OF THE CYLINDER, A POWER PISTON FITTED WITHIN THE CYLINDER CHAMBER FOR RECIPROCATION UNDER ALTERNATE PRESSURE OF A FLUID, A VALVE MEANS ATTACHED TO THE PISTON, AN INLET MEANS FOR FLUID UNDER PRESSURE WITH PORT COMMUNICATION TO THE UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS OF THE CYLINDER CHAMBER, A PAIR OF COMPLEMENTAL MEMBERS WITHIN THE HOUSING AT THE UPPER AND LOWER END POSITION OF THE AXIALLY SLIDABLE CYLINDER, WHEREBY THE PISTON IS RECIPROCATED BY THE INLET OF FLUID PRESSURE WHICH IS ALTERNATELY CONTROLLED BY THE VALVE MEANS ATTACHED TO THE PISTON AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE CYLINDER CHAMBER AND BY THE VALVE MEANS ATTACHED AT THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CYLINDER CHAMBER AND THE EXHAUST OF THE PRESSURE FLUID IS ALTERNATELY CONTROLLED BY THE CLOSING OF THE CYLINDER PORTS BY THE COMPLEMENTAL MEMBERS AS THE CYLINDER IS MOVED AXIALLY TO ITS UPPER AND 